Palestinian press agency Ma’an News confirmed the attack of several journalists covering two protests that took place in Ramallah on Saturday and Sunday.
Reuters’ photographer Saed al-Hawari was beaten by the police during a protest he was covering on July 1st. The same day, photographer Ahmad Musleh was arrested and local journalist Ahmad Ouda, had his camera confiscated.
Witnesses said the Palestinian Authority sent security forces to crack down on the protesters.
A spokesperson for a Ramallah based press agency said ten people were recovering from the attacks in a local hospital and a few people had been arrested.
Adnan Dmeiri, a representative of the security services has said that the police is looking for the person behind the protest. “These unknown groups of people aim to sow discord and attack the Palestinian police” he added.
According to Ma’an News, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms, MADA, asked for an official investigation into the beating of Muhammad Jaradat "who was simply doing his job is an abuse of human rights and is a serious backward step in freedom of opinion and expression."
Jaradat was covering a protest on June 30th when four people wearing civilian clothes but who seemed to be part of the police started beating him. He was then taken away along with six other people and got his camera confiscated.
“They brutally attacked me, despite me showing my press identification. They took me to the upper floor and continued to beat me with a stick, causing bleeding in my nose," Jaradat told MADA.
Jaradat was finally released after he spoke to the Director of the police, a relative of his who apologised.
Reactions
A network of 16 Palestinian NGOs who represented the civil society talked shared their concerns and strongly criticised the repression.
The Palestinian Journalists Union said the government failed to respect freedom of press.
